Almost three decades ago, a few neighbourhood friends who were new mothers, marvelled at how many articles of clothing their children had needed throughout their first months.  They thought how difficult it must be for some households to provide all of those basics.  They wanted to help.  Gathering their own gently-used items, they searched for an organization that could get the supplies to families who needed them but none existed. The women initiated a charity that would ensure all new mothers had  the clothing items required to care for their newborn. Basically Babies, an Alberta registered charity, began in Edmonton in 1994.  Its Calgary chapter launched just over two years ago and has blossomed into an extremely busy and vital aspect of community support.

Basically Babies’ primary purpose is to outfit newborns in need.  They provide a practical and beautiful layette of clothing to newborns living in situations of extreme poverty.  Compiled largely of donated items, these layettes include an entire wardrobe of clothing a child requires in their first year of life.  Every layette is carefully curated to contain each item, size and seasonally-appropriate article in colour-coordinated selections.  The pieces are layered into a beautiful parcel and presented as a gift of dignity and hope to recipient families. 

Demand for Basically Babies parcels is ongoing.  These layettes meet the basic needs of a newborn in situations where their birth family is not able to provide.  This removes the financial and logistical burden of supplying essentials.

Basically Babies was named the recipient of funds to be raised at the 2021 CHAS Bridge Luncheon.  Unfortunately, because of restrictions for gathering during COVID, the luncheon, which was to have been held at the Calgary Golf and Country Club – typically with at least 200 enthusiastic bridge players in attendance – was cancelled.  However, through funding from Birdies for Kids, CHAS was nevertheless able to allocate $10,000 to Basically Babies Calgary.

For additional information about the humanitarian work of Basically Babies, please visit: www.basicallybabies.org  

A powerful video and testimonial of the impact.